Ben Affleck has reacted to the praise for his performance in To the Wonder in Roger Ebert's final film review.

Ebert's review of director Terrence Malick's new film - published two days after the critic succumbed to cancer at the age of 70 - lauded Malick and star Affleck for attempting to "reach beneath the surface" of human emotion to "find the soul in need".

In an interview with USA Today, Affleck was asked for his reaction to Ebert's last ever movie critique.

"I did read it... I thought it was lovely," Affleck told the publication.

He added of his personal connection with Ebert: "I went and visited Roger last summer and talked about Argo. I was in his home, and met his wife and saw how tough [conditions] were after his surgery. I was so moved by the cheerfulness that he had toward this, the sort of way that he bore that burden.

"I mean, for days after I left - he gave me a copy of his book and I read it, I just was so inspired by that. By a guy who was fighting something that was really debilitating, and was so gracious and warm and loved life."

Affleck went on to admit that he was incredibly saddened by Ebert's death, in addition to praising the reviewer's influence.

"It just broke my heart to hear that he died... And the fact that he wrote his last review of [To the Wonder]; it was viewed through the prism of this wonderful man who was at the very end of his life," Affleck explained.

"To see the movie through that lens was one of the most powerful things to ever happen to me in my career."

Celebrity tributes to Ebert have poured in since his passing, with US President Barack Obama, Jimmy Kimmel, Edgar Wright and Mia Farrow among those to honor the critic.